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Donation of Power Wheels Mustangs Allows Kids To `Drive’ Themselves to Hospital’s OR

Aug 21, 2017

What: Southern Arizona Mustang Club Donation of Two Power Wheels Mustangs for Pediatric Surgery Patients

When: 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25

Where: Diamond Children’s lobby, Banner – UMC Tucson

Members of the Southern Arizona Mustang Club – the oldest Mustang Club in the world – will donate two miniature Mustangs to Banner Children’s – Diamond Children’s Medical Center on Friday so young patients can “drive” themselves from their pre-operative prep station into the operating room.

“We’ve seen from other children’s hospitals that young patients going into surgery are more relaxed and under less stress when they ‘drive’ themselves to the OR,” said Roy Keller of the Southern Arizona Mustang Club, who also works as surgical first assistant in cardiothoracic surgery at Banner – UMC Tucson. “Our club members were very enthusiastic about the idea and so we’ve purchased, assembled and personalized these great-looking little Mustangs, and we are very proud to donate them to Diamond Children’s.”

“This is something we’ve wanted to do for some time at Diamond Children’s,” said Banner – UMC Tucson perioperative director Kara Snyder, RN, former nursing director at Diamond Children’s. “We strive to create a warm and welcoming environment for kids before surgery where they can have a bit of fun. It’s all about reducing anxiety about going to the OR, which can sometimes feel scary.”

The Southern Arizona Mustang Club was established in Tucson 53 years ago. Supporting local children, police and military always has been part of its mission. Each of the battery-operated Power Wheels Mustangs cost about $300.

About Banner – University Medical Center Tucson

Banner – University Medical Center Tucson, home to Banner Children’s – Diamond Children’s Medical Center, is part of Banner – University Medicine, a premier academic medical network in Arizona. Banner Health is one of the largest nonprofit health-care systems in the country, operating in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. For more information, visit www.BannerHealth.com/UniversityTucson